Gayle targets trio in Staines Town transfer swoop

Swans' boss Marcus Gayle gets tough as he looks to freshen squad

Angry Marcus Gayle wants his side to show some fight in Saturday’s clash at Chelmsford City - and has promised to freshen up his squad in a bid to spark life into stuttering Swans.

The Staines Town boss saw his team surrender 1-0 at home to Weston-super-Mare in Vanarama South on Monday - their third defeat in five - in foul playing conditions.

Now he will take action and introduce two or three new players to the squad in the next 10 days - having already targeted a forward with a fellow Vanarama South club and put in a seven-day approach.

“Since Tuesday morning we have been working our fingers to the bone to see who is available," said Gayle. "We have been looking at who we can bring in to change it and have put the approach in [Thursday] to start the ball rolling.

"The forward is around 25-years-old and is not in his club's team at the moment. So he's experienced and I have known him for a while and my coaching staff have been aware of him too.

"Down the middle of the team we need to strengthen in each area, a central defender, a midfield player, perhaps even a winger if that’s what it takes, and someone up front who can contribute alongside Louie [Theophanous]. We can’t keep relying on him to score us 30 goals in a season.”

Gayle is also in talks with a particular wide man who played in Conference South last season and League Two prior to that, a man who happened to ring him on Monday.

"The fact he rang me shows that players want to come to us and we have that reputation of them wanting to play for Staines Town.

"That's what I'm after. I need men with character. I hope to have three new players in the next 10 days and I will have to do some manoeuvring to free up some money in the budget.

"I have made up my mind on one or two who I think have gone stale and aren't progressing. Acting now won't harm the other players, it will be a wake-up call for them to know they have to stay on their toes."

Midfielder Chace O'Neill is unavailable on Saturday because of a trip he had arranged before signing for the club while Calum Willock could be included alongside Louie Theophanous to provide some ballast up front.

"Chelmsford have two forwards who will prove a handful and like to get their shots off quickly so it will be a difficult game," added Gayle. "If we can't win it then we don't want to lose it."

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.